Bill Overview
Title: KIDS Health Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement a demonstration program that supports a whole child health model for children under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Specifically, the CMS must award grants to up to 15 states to plan and implement a health care model that supports the physical, behavioral, social, and other needs of children who qualify for Medicaid or CHIP through care coordination and integrated supportive services. States must implement models for 4-6 years. The CMS must provide technical assistance and guidance to states for the demonstration program. The bill also provides for an 80% federal matching rate for program costs. The Government Accountability Office must report on program outcomes.
Sponsors: Rep. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: Children who qualify for Medicaid or CHIP
Estimated Size: 37000000
- The bill targets children who qualify for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), aimed at improving their health services.
- Medicaid and CHIP generally cover low-income children, so this includes children from families with low-income situations.
- The bill involves up to 15 states, indicating a subset of the national population can be significantly impacted initially, with potential scaling.
- Approximately 37 million children in the United States were covered by Medicaid and CHIP in 2019.
Reasoning
- The policy targets low-income children eligible for Medicaid and CHIP, improving their health access and services.
- The policy will provide infrastructure to coordinate care models addressing multiple health facets: physical, social, behavioral.
- The policy's impact will vary by state and individual circumstances, as it only applies to up to 15 states and the effectiveness of coordinated care depends on implementation quality.
- The funding, although significant, will need to be split between the states and over several years, affecting the scale and intensity possible per child.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 8 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more support for social services could really help because sometimes my daughter's needs are beyond just medical care.
- Coordinated care means less traveling to different locations for appointments, which is hard for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Cleveland, Ohio)
Age: 12 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new model could help us manage going to different health providers better, less travel would be nice.
- If they include behavioral support, it can be a big help for maintaining his motivation and positive outlook.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Student (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 14 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved integration could assist us in understanding and receiving available benefits more efficiently.
- More social service support around education would be appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Student (Rural Mississippi)
Age: 7 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs need to reach more rural kids; traveling long distances is tough and expensive.
- The policy could be very hopeful if transportation is included.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Student (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Age: 10 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think blending mental health with regular health check-ups would be beneficial.
- Our family just enrolled in CHIP, and understanding the system is crucial right now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 9 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health support becoming normalized through this program would be great.
- Reducing stigma could improve my son's willingness to seek help and support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 6 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Coordination that includes school support can help improve her learning experience.
- We need more connections to community resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Student (Miami, Florida)
Age: 11 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the policymakers could integrate cultural sensitivity, that would be beneficial.
- Access to interpreters as part of healthcare coordination should be prioritized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Student (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 13 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this one can prevent disruptions in children's healthcare continuity.
- Having a stable and continuous support system is critical as children grow.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Student (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The initiative could create a more structured support system for kids like me in foster care.
- Continuity in health services is something I hope this policy will provide.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 3: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 10: $550000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $600000000)
Year 100: $750000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $800000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of the demonstration projects hinges on the willingness and capacity of participating states to innovate and implement the models efficiently.
- Federal matching covers up to 80% of costs, but states still need to provide up to 20%, which may affect their budget priorities.
- Significant costs related to expanded services in children's health and technical assistance provision by CMS.
- Potential challenges in evaluating long-term outcomes and limitations of the demonstration period in capturing full benefits.